Washburn quarterback Mitch Buhler looks to step up as vocal leader

Rossville product hoping to build on solid junior season

With his laid-back demeanor, Washburn quarterback Mitch Buhler has anchored the Ichabod offense the last two seasons while leading by his actions and not so much his words.

Entering his senior year, Buhler feels it’s time to add another aspect to his leadership initiative.

“I think I need to be more vocal,” he said. “I’ve kind of been a leader by example my entire life. I’m just figuring out that vocal gets it done a little quicker.”

Washburn senior left tackle Dylan Ready said Buhler’s effort to be more vocal has been noticeable, but Ready noted the Ichabods have already viewed Buhler as the leader of the offense in the last two seasons.

“Mitch has always been the quiet leader,” Ready said. “But there are plenty of other guys on the team that get vocal and loud, so Mitch hasn’t always needed to be that vocal guy. Everybody on the team really likes Mitch, and he’s kind of made the effort to be more vocal. It’s kind of weird at times, but it’s needed. He’s been the go-to guy for the last two years, so it’s a good role for him.”

Buhler is looking to build on a solid junior campaign in which he threw for 2,261 yards with 23 touchdowns.

“Toward the end of last year, I kind of felt more comfortable being a vocal leader and just kind of rolled with it throughout the summer and carried it into fall camp,” he said.

Buhler enters the season ranked sixth in Washburn history in passing yards with 4,165. The Rossville product will guide an offense that put up 41 points per game and averaged 344 yards of total offense last year.

“You want your seniors to be leaders all across the board, and with a senior quarterback you just want that little extra push,” Washburn coach Craig Schurig said. “He’s not going to be a huge vocal guy, but when he says something, people are going to listen. He’s going to lead through his demeanor and how he carries himself and by action.”

Last year marked the second straight season Buhler was sidelined by injury. He suffered an elbow injury to his non-throwing arm that kept him out of the final two games of 2013 against Missouri Western and Emporia State as Washburn missed out on the playoffs and settled for an 8-3 record.

“It fuels my fire,” Buhler said of being sidelined down the stretch the last two seasons. “I’ve been trying to get in better shape and stay healthy throughout the entire season, but I think it’s going to take a lot of work during the season to stay healthy as well. I’m just ready to go this year.”

Buhler (6-foot-2, 205 pounds) should have a strong rapport with his receiving corps, which includes seven upperclassmen including senior DaJuan Beard, who has 125 career receptions for 1,891 yards with 23 touchdowns.

“With all the receivers, we’ve been together three or four years so it feels pretty natural with them right off the bat,” Buhler said. “Hopefully, we keep making strides during camp and get ready for the season.”

Beard said he expects Buhler to take control and take the team to another level in 2014.

“It’s his team,” Beard said. “I feel Mitch has stepped up a lot in the summer and everything. Mitch taking over will help carry this team over the hump.”